Ein Brusselsche oder: bandische Dama

Two plates in one mount (see 2002.139/246) a figure of a woman, inscribed. Ein Brusselsche oder: bandische Dama (A lady from Brussels or Brabant).. Ao 164../Nobilis Mulier Brabantica (A noble woman from Brabant)/ .. Hollar fecit 1649, by W. Hollar, Aula Veneris (The Female Court), 1649. This book was first published in 1644 and portrays the fashions of women at different courts throughout Europe.

Back view of woman wearing a gown with a low-cut bodice. She has a dark veil and a fur muff and several rosaries that seem to be hanging from her wrist.

The maker of this print is Wenceslaus Hollar (1607 – 1677), a draughtsman and etcher from Prague. Mainly active in Germany, he visited the Netherlands in 1634 and joined the service of Thomas Howard, Earl of Arundel in 1636. The earl brought the artist to London where he focused mainly on book-illustration and cartography. He joined Lord Henry Howard in his expedition to Tangiers, but afterwards continued his work as an illustrator. He died in London in reduced circumstances.

Further reading
Colas, R., Bibliographie Générale du Costume et de la Mode. Description des suites, recueils, séries, revues et livres Français et étrangers relatifs au costume civil, militaire et religieux, aux modes, aux coiffures et aux divers accessoires de l’habillement, avec une table méthodique et un index alphabétique, Paris 1933, entry 1465; 1466; 1467.

Reynolds, A., In fine Style. The Art of Tudor and Stuart Fashion, London 2013.

Ribeiro, A., Fashion and Fiction. Dress in Art and Literature in Stuart England, London 2005.